Can You Use A Treadmill Upstairs? - Nordictrack Promo Codes

If you have a treadmill or are considering purchasing a treadmill for your home, you may have considered placing your treadmill on an upper level. There are many practical reasons for this, such as space limitations, living in an upstairs apartment, and more.

However, you may also be wondering if using a treadmill upstairs has any safety or noise concerns. Today, we will dive into what details to consider when placing a treadmill upstairs so that you can make a choice confidently.

Are There Any Safety Concerns with Putting a Treadmill Upstairs?

As far as safety goes with having a treadmill upstairs, thankfully a structurally sound home or apartment building will have no issues with the weight of a treadmill. Treadmills generally weigh somewhere between 250 and 300 pounds. Even with a person’s added weight and impact, this is still well within the standard weight tolerance for a second or upper level.

However, it’s important to note that if your home is dealing with structural issues, such as a sinking foundation or cracks, you may want to consider consulting an engineer before deciding if an upstairs treadmill is a good idea.

What About the Noise?

Now that you can rest assured that you can safely place a treadmill on your second floor (or above), you may be wondering about the noise the treadmill will generate for the floors below. This is a valid concern since the noise from the impact of running and walking can easily carry through the floors. Generally speaking, this is just an annoyance that can be dealt with by taking a few factors into consideration.

If you live in an apartment with people below you, talk to them about your treadmill and consider getting their approval for the extra noise. This may involve agreeing on what times of day are appropriate for your treadmill use and other courtesy factors.

If the treadmill is going to be in your own home, once again it may be important to discuss your treadmill schedule with other people in your house to make sure you can all agree on some rules. For example, maybe you will agree not to run on the treadmill before 6 am or after 9 pm each day.

Additionally, there are simple ways to dampen the treadmill’s noise and make any noise concerns even less of an issue. Options for this include the following:

Purchase an acoustic dampening rubber mat to place under the treadmill

If you are concerned about the room to room noise transfer, you can also soundproof the walls of your workout room too

Place your treadmill on the carpet (a natural noise reducer)

Ensure your treadmill is appropriately set up and aligned to reduce bouncing noise

Be friendlier to your joints and practice landing with a “lighter” foot with both running and walking (a win-win for everyone)

Keep your treadmill well maintained to avoid unnecessary squeaks

Most importantly, purchase a quiet treadmill. Most modern treadmill models are designed to absorb more impact and operate smoothly with minimal noise. Simply choose one that also fits your other needs, such as an LED screen, programming, and more.

Putting a Treadmill Upstairs

With a little extra planning and consideration, placing a treadmill on an upper level is no big deal. Setting up your home workout space to be motivated and consistent is the key to staying fit. Thus, most importantly, if having the ability to use a treadmill upstairs will help you stay more active and reach your fitness goals, you should go for it.